MARAD, the U.S. Coast Guard, and ten other Federal agencies, in partnership with non-Federal stakeholders, inaugurated a program to improve the marine portion of the national transportation system. The MTS initiative is a program to ensure a safe and environmentally sound world-class marine transportation system that improves the global competitiveness and national security of the United States. For further information on the MTS initiative, you can visit the MTS website at http://www.dot.gov/mts/.

MTS National Task Force

Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to form a Task Force to assess the adequacy of the Nation's marine transportation system to operate in a safe, efficient, secure, and environmentally sound manner.

The MTS Task Force was composed of industry associations, shipper groups, and other stakeholders. Through cooperative efforts between Government and private sector partners, the MTS assessment was completed and transmitted to Congress on September 9, 1999.

Implementation of MTS Recommendations

The Congressional report, An Assessment of the U.S. Marine Transportation System, was the culmination of two years of unprecedented dialogue between the public and private sector to address issues in the MTS. Three key recommendations of the report have been implemented.

• In April 2000, the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) was established by the Secretary of Transportation with the Maritime Administration as the designated sponsor. The MTSNAC consists of 30 industry leaders representing every element of our MTS. The purpose of the MTSNAC is to advise the Secretary of Transportation on issues, policies, plans, and funding solutions needed to ensure that the U.S. MTS is capable of responding to the projected trade increases. The MTSNAC has held two meetings and has identified public awareness as its top priority. The MTSNAC has also established five Council teams: Awareness, Infrastructure, Safety and Environment, Information Technology, and Research and Development. For further information on the MTSNAC, you can visit the MTSNAC website at http://www.mtsnac.org/.

• A new Interagency Committee for the Marine Transportation System (ICMTS) has been established. This Committee serves as the national coordinating body for all Federal agencies responsible for one or more aspects of the MTS. To date, 17 federal agencies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the ICMTS.

The ICMTS has held several meetings and established six subcommittees to address the various MTS issues. They are:

• Security - responsible for addressing interagency issues concerning improvement of MTS security, including physical security of ports, vessels and waterways and their infrastructures; cargo, crew and passenger security; and improvements in efficiency and communication between agencies with security responsibilities.

• Safety and Environmental Protection - responsible for addressing interagency issues concerning improvement of the MTS in two main areas: safety of people and property and protection of the environment.

• Strategic Planning - responsible for developing the ICMTS Strategic Plan for presentation to the ICMTS, recommending updates as appropriate, capturing agency actions leading to achievement of Plan goals, and measuring progress. The ICMTS Strategic Plan will serve as a track line for agencies on the voyage to achieve the MTS Vision.

• Resources - responsible for developing an interagency resource strategy for MTS support that incorporates a plan of examining Federal funding processes, defining MTS funding mechanisms, forecasting demands on the MTS, and exploring innovative funding mechanisms.

• Research and Development and Technology Application - responsible for interagency identification of relevant research and development projects that support MTS vision attainment.

• Ferryboats - responsible for coordinating government resources and efforts to facilitate the development and operation of ferryboats as a vital link of the MTS.

• Seven Regional MTS Dialog sessions were held throughout the U.S. from May-July 2000 to help regional groups develop strategies for addressing regional maritime transportation issues. Port directors, terminal operators, cargo and passenger vessel operators, shippers, pilots, and representative from federal, state and local agencies attended the sessions. Local coordination groups are also organizing in ports throughout the country.

MTS Research and Development Coordinating Conference    Proceedings

During November 1999, a national R&D Conference was held to coordinate improvements to the U.S. MTS. The conference was planned by the Interagency Committee on Waterways Management and hosted by MARAD. The purpose of the Conference was to:

• Discuss and assess the research and technology needs to improve the MTS;
• Encourage and facilitate R&D coordination among Federal and non-federal stake holders;
• Discuss the establishment of a national cooperative research program for the MTS; and
• Discuss the state of the art in technology and techniques related to MTS.

Both the ICMTS and MTSNAC have formed R&D subcommittees to address the research issues raised by the conference and the MTS Congressional Report.